During a three-hour debate, which took place during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday Central European Time, each candidate first introduced themselves and then answered various questions, such as why they applied for the job.
Asked by the Hungarian ambassador to the UN what kind of leadership the UN and the world needed, Pusic said that the criteria in that regard had been lowered in the last 20 years.
Catchy phrases and lack of responsibility are currently very popular, but I believe that we do not want leadership based on platitudes and on what people want to hear. Today's leaders need vision, tenacity and courage, Pusic said.
Her statement about the need to strengthen the position of women in public office, including in the UN, received a big round of applause.
I am not just a woman, I am also a feminist. For the past 70 years the UN has been dominated by a male view of the world, which is only 50 percent of life experience, and now is the time for the other 50 percent, Pusic said.
The term of the present UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has served two consecutive five-year terms, expires at the end of 2016 and the name of his successor is expected to be known in September.